Hillhead Primary School, 21 Cecil Street, Hillhead, Glasgow

Hillhead Primary School, located at 21 Cecil Street in Hillhead, Glasgow, was designed by H and D Barclay in 1883, with an additional attic added by S Preston in 1908. This classical building features Greek detailing and consists of three storeys, a full basement that rises to the ground floor, and an attic, measuring 15 by 3 main bays. The structure is stepped in slope and constructed from polished ashlar, with banding at the ground floor.

The school has casement windows with T-pane glazing. The central main entrance is situated at the top of steps flanked by parapet walls. A three-bay section projects forward, featuring a fluted pilastered entrance with sidelights and a panelled door. Above this is an architraved section with two Ionic columns in antis and the inscription "HILLHEAD HIGH SCHOOL" in the frieze. The third floor is topped with a pediment that includes caryatid busts on fluted piers in antis.

The basement windows on the north side are elliptically arched with voussoirs, and the entrance is to the right, featuring an architrave and console cornice with a tablet in the frieze marked "BOYS" in relief lettering. The ground floor has a band course with plain windows that have simple aprons. The first-floor windows in the north bays are framed by anta pilastrade with aprons, linked by an independent cornice, while the four southern bays have recessed windows set within a semi-engaged Ionic colonnade and a linking cornice. A continuous cornice runs along the first floor, which is advanced over the central bays. The second-floor windows in the north bays are semi-engaged with dwarf pilastrade, while the southern bays feature a dwarf Ionic colonnade, topped by a parapet and a half-hipped attic.

The north return elevation continues the detailing of the main elevation, consisting of three bays in the north. The south return elevation has three ashlar bays with simple detailing, and the parapet is raised at the angles. The rear and side elevations are plain, constructed of snecked rubble, and there is an ashlar boundary wall with cast-iron gates.

Inside, the school features cast-iron balusters on the stairs and landings, a top-lit entrance hall, and a portrait of E E Macdonald from 1914 in Carrara marble by Fiaschi.